School Nutrition Trends and Takeaways from CSNA 2025
Most people hand out candy on Halloween, but not our Farm-to-School Team! We spent the day at the Pasadena Convention Center giving away fresh fruit, tote bags, and smiles instead. Halloween 2025 just happened to fall during the California School Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference (CSNA), one of our favorite events
Why Staff & Teacher Appreciation Gifts Matter (Gift Ideas Inside)
Imagine you could wave a magic wand and make your district’s staff and teachers happier and more engaged at work. Would you take the opportunity? Of course you would! And it turns out you don’t need magic to make it happen—you just need to show them some appreciation. A 2024
Meet the Finger Lime: A Tasty Snack for Students
California finger lime farmers Justin Warren and Megan Shanley Warren have three school-aged sons—and they all love finger limes. Megan told The FruitGuys that when she does the laundry, she often finds the little fruits in her boys’ pockets! “Finger limes are really fun for kids because they’re super easy
How to Unlock Free Nutrition Education Materials for Your Students
These days, grants that fund fresh produce in K–12 schools often ask nutrition services directors to jump through an extra hoop. Not only do you need to buy local fruits and veggies, but you also need to teach kids about them! That’s where student nutrition education materials come in. What
Nutrition Services Back-to-School Toolkit: 5 Tips for a Smooth Year
Every new school year brings a lot of pressure for nutrition services directors. It’s up to you to make sure your staff is trained and prepared, your students have nutritious options, and your program helps educate them on healthier choices. That’s a lot to juggle—which is why we put together
5 Ways to Make Your Back-to-School Events More Fun
Back-to-school nights, open houses, and meet-the-teacher days are packed full of important information for parents and kids—but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Here are five ways to make your back-to-school events more fun this year without skipping the paperwork. 1. Gamify must-do tasks. Who doesn’t love games?
Healthy Snacks for Summer Programs: 11 Kid-Approved Favorites
Summer programs keep students moving, learning, and playing—but all of that activity takes fuel. Luckily, there are plenty of nutritious and delicious snack options out there. To help you pick the best ones, we’ve rounded up our top healthy snacks for summer programs. They’re great for students or staff (because
Need Nut-Free Snacks for Students? Try Our New Snack Box!
Did you know that the number of people with food allergies has increased by 50 percent since the 1990s? Today, 1 in every 13 kids has a food allergy, which can make group snack times tricky. To help keep students safe and take the stress out of snacking at school,
5 Creative Ways to Serve Snacks in K-12 Schools
Healthy, individually packaged snacks aren’t just nice to have in schools—they’re a must for keeping kids fueled, focused, and ready to learn. But what’s the best way to serve them? If you’re struggling to come up with ideas beyond handing out granola bars after school, we’ve got you covered. Here
Affordable End-of-School-Year Gifts for Staff and Teachers
It’s almost the end of the school year, and that’s a milestone worth celebrating! Your district’s nutrition services and cafeteria staff, teachers, counselors, and librarians have worked hard for months to keep their students healthy, happy, and learning. They deserve end-of-year gifts, but finding the right ones can be tricky
10 Fun Earth Day Activities for Students
As school holidays go, Earth Day often flies under the radar. Valentine’s Day and Halloween—with their cute decorations and gift-giving traditions—get far more attention. But Earth Day activities for students are worth the effort! Not only does Earth Day remind us to protect our planet, but it’s also a great
Fruit for Valentine’s Day Fun at School: 10 Tasty Ideas
Variety is the spice of life—and it might also be the secret to turning the tide on childhood obesity. New research from Harvard University found that kids exposed to a variety of healthy foods have better odds of maintaining a healthy weight than their peers. Unfortunately, not all parents have